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Chapter 85
~Tempest’s POV~
Aira was in a pale green bikini that showed off her beautiful body, while Zara’s was more modest—a one-piece with thin straps and a deep blue colour that matched her eyes. They both looked serene and effortlessly content.
And here I was, raw, still trying to scrub away every trace of yesterday.
My chest tightened—jealousy, resentnt, and sothing I couldn’t na— all fuelling my thoughts. I couldn’t take it, watching them so easily and free.
Aira—my twin—the one who had everything I didn’t—love, kindness, strength that didn’t co from anger, seed to be enjoying herself better than I did.
I spun around, ready to slip back where I’d co before they could see .
"Tempest!" Aira’s voice carried across the space, stopping in my tracks. Her tone was soft but threaded with sothing that wouldn’t let ignore her.
Too late.
I took a deep breath, masking my emotions as best I could, and turned to face them.
Zara’s face lit up upon seeing as she waved. "Hey," I replied, forcing a small smile as I approached them, wishing I could just turn and leave.
"Wanna join?" Aira asked, a bit casually. I could see she was trying to act normal and as awkward as it sounded, it brought a smile to my lips.
"Sure."
I slipped off my cover-up, folding it neatly before sitting by the pool’s edge. The water shimred coolly, inviting as Aira and Zara slipped in effortlessly, their laughter mingling with the soft splashes.
Aira swam over to with a soft smile, as though she knew I needed the quiet comfort she always brought. Her hand reached out openly for to take.
"Co on," she encouraged. "It’s perfect in here."
I sighed, slipping my legs into the water and feeling the coolness seep into my skin. It felt grounding and calming, like a balm on everything Koda had stirred up inside .
With a small smile, I took Aira’s hand and slid into the water, letting the chill ripple over .
Aira swam backwards, her face breaking into a wide grin. "See? I knew you’d like it."
I splashed her, letting a genuine laugh slip free. "Fine, fine, you win. But don’t expect to join you every morning."
Aira rolled her eyes playfully, nudging Zara, who chuckled. "I’ll take what I can get," she said with a wink.
Watching Zara laugh, her head tipped back, her eyes sparkling under the sunlight, I felt sothing strange.
She was almost... luminous, like soone who belonged. It was a rare look for soone who wasn’t born into this life—my life.
I found myself staring, unable to shake the curiosity in my mind. "Zara," I asked, leaning back against the pool edge. "You seem... I don’t know, comfortable here. I wouldn’t have expected it."
She glanced at , surprised by the question but smiled. "It’s peaceful," she said, choosing her words carefully. "I’ve been through a lot and this place... it’s different. Safe, maybe."
"Safe?" I echoed but the word tasted foreign. Did she really think this life, with all its broken pieces, could offer any kind of safety? But then she didn’t know the half of it.
None of them did.
The water cooled the frustration boiling under my skin, and I sighed, sinking deeper into the pool. For a while, we swam in silence, each of us lost in our thoughts, occasionally exchanging smiles or splashes, grounding ourselves in the simplicity of it all.
But the peace only lasted so long. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zara drift toward the edge of the pool, staring thoughtfully at the horizon.
"Thinking of leaving already?" I asked, my tone half-teasing but laced with sothing sharper.
Zara looked at , surprised, before her gaze softened. "I might. There’s work to be done in the city, after all."
The reminder that she would be going back to her life—her world—stirred sothing bitter inside . I was envious. Here she was, free to co and go, untouched by bonds nor burdened by fate.
"Lucky you."
Always quick to sense a shift in mood, Aira placed a hand on my shoulder, her grip grounding . "Let’s just enjoy this mont, Tempest," she whispered before facing Zara. "But taking a vacation wouldn’t be bad."
"It wouldn’t, truth be told, but a major investor wants a deal signed in two days. I need to make preparations and see if I can push things back a bit for Stornm as well.
"Ah, I see. Sore about the extra load."
The way Aira spoke, it ca naturally comforting people and perhaps I needed that comfort, but I was too stubborn to crave or seek it.
And so, I pushed everything aside and sank into the pool to completely drown it all.
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~Koda’s POV~
I clenched my fists, leaning against a sturdy oak, hiding just out of sight as Aira’s laughter reached , light and carefree, floating from the direction of the pool.
Just that one sound had rooted to the spot, my chest tightening like it always did whenever I heard her. To make matters worse, the thought of losing her felt like my breath was stolen from .
But then I caught another scent—a faint, familiar wildness that set my nerves on edge. Tempest.
My wolf, Moon, imdiately stirred when he sensed Tempest but I couldn’t move. Moon wanted her—needed to accept the mate bond and our mate but no.
My grip on the tree tightened.
One step closer, and I’d be right there, caught between the two people I wanted least to see together.
Every instinct in urged to turn back. But damn if my feet would listen.
I hovered there, shifting my weight, wrestling with the urge to go, just for a second—to look, maybe talk to Aira, apologise even.
Just as I was about to cave, my phone vibrated sharply in my pocket. I took it out and glanced down at the screen, feeling my stomach twist at the sight of my alpha’s na: Slade.
With a sigh, I turned on my heel, stepping further from the pool as I answered the call.
"Koda," Slade’s voice greeted , a playful edge coating his words. "So, I haven’t seen my beta in three days or more. Should I be worried? Or have you ditched for so other pack, hmm?"
Updat𝓮d from freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.co(m)
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